CLEVELAND -- Governor John Kasich has been publicly campaigning and urging the legislature to expand Medicaid to cover 275,000 Ohioans in need.

The Republican-dominated legislature's leadership has balked at even putting the issue to a vote.

Groups supporting expansion are now pursuing efforts collecting signatures to try to get the Legislature to vote and, perhaps, ultimately get the issue before voters.

Kasich has argued it makes economic sense for Ohio to take advantage of a program the federal government will fully fund for now and largely fund later.

Otherwise, Ohio tax dollars will go to other states.

He has also made the humanitarian case for helping those in genuine need.

But opponents fear the federal government may not hold up its end of the bargain and leave the state on the hook for expenses.

Rep. Marcia Fudge says she has changed her thoughts about Kasich's efforts.

Originally she commended him for backing the expansion. But now she is questioning the sincerity of Kasich's efforts alleging he's not trying hard enough.

"Maybe it's just all lip service. You can't say to me the governor of the state of Michigan, which is in much worse shape than we are, can go to his House and pass something. He's not a better politician. He's not a better governor. You can't tell me he (Kasich) doesn't have the same ability to go to the House and get it passed if he wants too," she said.

Kasich's spokesman Rob Nichols said,"How anyone that is part of the dysfunction that is Washington D.C. can say this is laughable. We will not be lectured by anyone who is part of the problem in Washington D.C. about anything."

Fudge made the comments while taping Sunday's WKYC's Between the Lines on Thursday.

She also speaks about rumored issues between her and Cuyahoga County Executive and Governor candidate Ed FitzGerald.The segment is on Sunday morning, right before Meet the Press.